Pickin’ Up Manna

Rescuing Good Food. Nourishing Our Neighbors.

Good food goes unsold every day while families in our community struggle to afford groceries. Pickin’ Up Manna helps connect that food with the people who need it.

Through partnerships with local stores, restaurants, farms, and other food donors, Manna Cafe rescues more than 1.5 million pounds of surplus food each year, representing the equivalent of approximately 1.25 million meals.

What Is Food Rescue?

Food rescue means collecting food that is still safe and suitable to eat but might otherwise go to waste. A store may have more inventory than it can sell, produce may have cosmetic imperfections, or an item may have a labeling or packaging issue that does not affect its safety.

We collect this food and share it through our grocery distributions or use it to prepare nutritious hot meals. When we have more than we can distribute, we share with community partners so the food can reach more neighbors.

What We Collect

Our food rescue includes meat, dairy, fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and other groceries, including organic options. These donations help families bring home nourishing food and give our kitchen ingredients for meals prepared with care.

Our Food Rescue Partners

This work is possible because businesses and community members choose to share. Our partners include grocers, retailers, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, schools, farmers’ markets, farmers, hunters, and caterers.

Their generosity, together with the work of our staff and volunteers, helps turn surplus food into nourishing groceries and hot meals for our neighbors.

Together with our staff and volunteers, these partners help turn surplus food into groceries on a family’s table and a hot meal for a neighbor.

Less Waste. More Nourishment.

USDA estimates that 30–40% of the U.S. food supply goes uneaten. Food rescue puts good food to use while helping reduce the amount sent to landfills, where decomposing food generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Every successful rescue is an opportunity to care for our neighbors and be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.

Have Food to Share?

Your surplus could help feed a neighbor. Please contact our Deputy Director at zoie@mannacafeministries.com, or call (931) 933-0970 to ask about becoming a food rescue partner.

Meal equivalents are estimated using Feeding America’s measure of approximately 1.2 pounds of food per meal. They are not a count of prepared meals served.